C/M/428. Relevance of the Principles of Scientific Management to 21st Century Organisations

Could scientific management principles that emerged from the 19th century be applicable to the management of mainstream organisations? The science of management promises to maximise the potentials of human resources in a way that ensures optimised benefits to both the employee and the organisation. Though the philosophy behind the science of management is conceived more than a century ago, Frederick W. Taylor, a leading scientific management theorist prescribes solutions to eliminate organisational inefficiencies. Not only do the scientific management principles he professed used today, but provoked issues such as knowledge and talents management, strategic human resource management, employee motivation, organisational behaviour, leadership and management style, and empirical-driven approach to management. Yet the dynamics of today's business environment have exposed the weaknesses of the underpinnings of scientific management theory.